The U.S. International Trade Commission agreed to investigate Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics based on a complaint filed by Eastman Kodak.

Kodak submitted its complaint in November, charging LG and Samsung with violating patents in their camera phones and other mobile products. The relevant patents cover technology related to image capture, compression and data storage, and a method for previewing certain images, Kodak said.

The companies have all discussed the matter but haven't come to a satisfactory agreement, Kodak said.

Kodak is asking the ITC to prevent LG and Samsung from importing and selling the products that Kodak claims infringe on its patents in the U.S.

The ITC will follow its standard time line in the case, meaning that in 45 days it will set a target date for completing the investigation.

At the same time that it filed the ITC complaint, Kodak also filed a lawsuit against the companies in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. That suit seeks damages as well as an injunction.

Kodak does not name the specific products from either phone maker that it claims infringe on the patents. It says that it first approached the companies about certain patents as far back as 2004.